Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope Essay - 596 Words

Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope Alexander Popes The Rape of the Lock is not studied and admired only because of its style and form, but also for its base content and underlying themes. Popes ability to manipulate text into mock-heroic form, constructing a flow of satirical description is what makes this poem one of such quality. The piece was first published in 1712 by the request of Popes friend, John Caryll. It was to make peace between the Fermors and Petres, two prominent Roman Catholic families at the time. The feud was supposedly caused by an incident at a card game that ended with Lord Petre cutting a lock from the hair of lovely Arabella Fermor. Caryll had hoped that Pope wrote a poem that would sooth the tempers†¦show more content†¦Popes over exaggeration of Belindas preparation accomplishes his intended goal of revealing how worthless he believes these duties to be. It is also necessary to discuss the fact that Pope seems to realize that the extreme vanity is caused by his own gender. If Belindas preparations are not for her male acquaintances, then why? Speaking through Clarissa, Pope allows the reader to take a step away from satire with a taste of sensibility, How vain are the Glories, all our Pains, / Unless good sense preserve what beauty gains†¦. (N. 1) Here the author seems to be pushing for a lack of shallowness in the opposite sex. Using The Rape of the Lock, Pope has criticized and attempted to explain the problem he himself sees in societys view of women and womens view of themselves. It is also apparent that he has attempted to understand the situation. Pope reveals a hint of sensitivity within the maze of critical satire: Nature to your undoing arms mankind With strength of body, artifice of mind; But gives your feeble sex, made up of fears, No guard but virtue, no redress but tears. Yet custom (Seldom to your favour gaind) Absolves the virgin when by force constraind†¦.(N. 1) Is the author searching for female readers to appreciate his sensitivity, or more likely, looking for some realization from his male peers? The Rape of the Lock can be, and has been, examined onShow MoreRelatedThe Rape Of Lock By Alexander Pope1448 Words   |  6 Pagesor dignified language that celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero. In Alexander Pope’s, The Rape of Lock, his poem is a mock epic, not only because it is a long narrative poem; but his work consists in a series of events and revolves around beauty over brains. This mock epic satirizes not only sylphs, but also satirizes a woman’s ability to think logically than emotionally. The Rape of Lock is considered to be a mock epic, because the length is not only long enough, but has aRead MoreAnalysis Of The Rape Of The Lock By Alexander Pope1134 Words   |  5 PagesWords can wound, words can heal, but most importantly, words have purpose. To Alexander Pope, writing critical satire was worth being called a â€Å"hump-backed toad† (Cody). Even though Alexander Pope was only four and a half feet tall due to his medical problems, his words made him a giant that left his footprint in the writing world (â€Å"Alexander Pope†). Alexander Pope uses brilliant, biting satire in The Rape of the Lock to effectively point out the vices in 18th century England as well as the corruptionRead MoreAlexander Pope s The Rape Of The Lock1340 Words   |  6 Pagesthemes and archetypes of these works known as epics are so well-known, that they are even parodied, take completely out of context, and pasted on the wall for laughs. One of the most recognized parodies of this kind would be Alexander Pope’s The Rape of the Lock. The Rape of the Lock is a story about taking a minor incident and satirizing it by making it into a huge and important epic of divine proportions. One might think of the phrase â€Å"a tempest in a teapot†, which perfectly describes this poem. InRead MoreMaterialism In Alexander Pope And Popes Rape Of The Lock1322 Words   |  6 Pagesmaterialism heightened throughout societal views. Authors such as Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift vividly spew these views throughout their writings. Pope’s Rape of the Lock exposes the materialism used in objectifying women, mainly in the upper-class societal levels. The whole plot of the story centers around a cosmetic appearance creating an objectified view, as since the lock of hair was cut from a womans head, the missing lock became, so called, evidence of a man’s sexual conquest. Other sexualRead MoreJohn Milton s Paradise Lost And Alexander Pope s The Rape Of The Lock1220 Words   |  5 Pagesmonologues, there is a long journey or quest, the hero earns some sort of prize for accomplishing his goals, and the use of epic similes is apparent. Several of these epic conventions are seen throughout John Milton’s Paradise Lost and Alexander Pope’s The Rape of the Lock. Paradise Lost is predominantly centered on the supernatural. It focuses on the story of Adam and Eve and how they lost their â€Å"paradise.† There are a couple arguments on who the real hero in Paradise Lost is. Some support SatanRead MoreConnotations of Marriage and Social Morals in Alexander Pope ´s Poem The Rape of the Lock1344 Words   |  6 Pagesmores in Alexander’s Pope poem â€Å"The Rape of the Lock† In the early eighteenth century England witnessed the peak of the tumultuous changes that is presently known as the Age of Enlightenment. Trapped deep within the chaotic changes of politics, religion, art and social mores, Alexander Pope proved a master at exploiting these changes circumstances in order to become an admired poet. (page 558, Wilson) Visible affected by the superficiality of the humankind, Alexander Pope made fun of the realRead MoreAlexander Pope and Women Essay example1658 Words   |  7 PagesAlexander Pope may have been the adversary of female behavior the extent of this has long been in question. The writer’s satirical style towards the women of his era is evidence of his opinions. However, there are noticeable facts that generate a swaying effect on Pope’s views and the meaning of The Rape of the Lock. These details consist of the author’s personal life and symbolism contained in his mock epic poem, including the voices of Bella and Clarissa, which is an indication that he may notRead MoreAnne Finchs Opposition to The Rape of the Lock Essay examples1412 Words   |  6 PagesThe Rape of the Lock The Restoration Period (1660-1700) was a period of social, political and philosophical turmoil, which laid the foundation for future centuries. This period was marked by an advance in colonization and trade and by the birth of the Whig and Tory parties. In poetry, works of Alexander Pope and Anne Finch and a number of other poets distinguishes the Restoration. But, there are several objections from these poets; one particular opposition occurs between Pope’s The Rape of theRead More Contrast Between Satire in The Rape Of The Lock and A Modest Proposal1679 Words   |  7 PagesContrast Between Satire in The Rape Of The Lock and A Modest Proposal   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Although Alexander Popes, The Rape Of The Lock and Jonathan Swifts A Modest Proposal are both witty satires, they differ on their style, intention, and mood. To begin, in The Rape Of The Lock, Alexander Pope uses Horation satire to invoke a light, whimsical, melancholy mood to illustrate the absurdity of fighting over the cutting of ones hair. In fact, Horation satire is defined by K. Lukes as a deviceRead MoreGender and Power Dyanics in ; ‘Oroonoko’ by Aphra Behn and ‘the Rape of the Lock’ by Alexander Pope1610 Words   |  7 PagesPaper 1; ‘Oroonoko’ by Aphra Behn and ‘The Rape of the Lock’ by Alexander Pope The relationship between gender and power dynamics is relevant to the understanding of literature through the ages. However, the widespread problematic belief that women are simply the passive, powerless victims of male power is oversimplified and outdated. Power relations, as theorized by Foucault in ‘The History of Sexuality’ are far more complex; the dynamic is ever-changing, from moment to moment and therefore any